Cabinet approves Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge project

"The government has adopted an order for the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge pilot project, aiming to develop inter-state backbone networks and to arrange the delivery of capacity of KhNPP's unit No. 2 to ensure long-term electricity exports to the European Union countries," the press service reported on Facebook.

Read alsoUkrenergo signs deal on Ukraine's accession to European energy systemAccording to the press service, this project also involves raising funds from the exports of electricity produced at KhNPP's unit No. 2 to fund the completion of power units Nos. 3 and 4 at KhNPP.

"The consortium of Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB, Polenergia International S.ar.l. and EDF Trading Limited has sent to the Ministry of Energy a concept note and a feasibility study on the implementation of public-private partnerships on the project," the ministry said.

It is also noted that the Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge is the first project of public-private partnership that envisages the integration of the unified energy system of Ukraine with the European energy system.

Read alsoEnergoatom: Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge PPP agreement may be signed by year-endEnergoatom has earlier presented its Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge project for linking KhNPP power unit No. 2 with ENTSO-E and exporting electricity. President of Ukraine's national nuclear energy generating company Energoatom Yuriy Nedashkovsky noted then that electricity supplies to Europe under long-term contracts might allow attracting investment in the completion of power units Nos. 3 and 4 at KhNPP whose readiness is assessed at 73% and 28%, respectively.

Nedashkovsky also reported that Energoatom plans that a draft law on the completion of the third and fourth power units of KhNPP would be approved at the Cabinet meeting by the end of this year and submitted to parliament. According to the company's estimates, Ukraine's integrated power grids will additionally get 15 billion kWh per year due to the construction of these units. The third unit is expected to be commissioned in 2025.

UNIAN memo. Khmelnytsky NPP is located in the city of Netishyn, Khmelnitsky region. Two power units (VVER-1000) with a total capacity of 2 GW operate at the station (put into operation in 1987 and 2004). The main purpose of the station is to cover the gap of electricity facilities in western Ukraine. Work on the completion of the third and fourth units at KhNPP have not been done in the past years, among other things, due to lack of funding.